Bonsall likes having few neighborhood sidewalks

Located off of Camino del Rey, near the Bonsall Elementary
School, is one of the few non-gated residential areas in the town
which has sidewalks. Camino del Cielo mostly has condominiums and
apartments.

David Lundy, 44, said he enjoys the sidewalks outside of his
condo near the corner of Camino del Cielo and Del Cielo Este. He
walks his dog, Lady, each day along the sidewalks.

"The sidewalks are great. A lot of people use them to get a
little exercise by walking. Lady likes sidewalks, too," Lundy said
as he stood on the sidewalk outside of his condo. He peered down to
see his 11-year-old Dalmatian slowly walk by his feet with her nose
to the concrete.

Joanie Mees, another Bonsall resident and dog owner, has no
sidewalks in her neighborhood. Mees said she doesn't need
sidewalks. And neither do her dogs Rascal, Ginger and Princess
Nala.

"I walk my dogs in the dirt. They like it," Mees said, as one of
her dogs sat quietly in her parked vehicle near the Bonsall Post
Office. "I take my walks along the side of the road. I'm careful
when I do it.

"The point is that not having sidewalks keeps the community
rural," Mees added.

Many children in Bonsall don't seem to mind not having
neighborhood sidewalks, either. With the large lot sizes for homes
in the town, most of the children acres of land where they can run,
jump and romp.

Riding a bicycle to school is not an option in many cases
because of the lack of sidewalks, few roadside bicycle lanes ---
and, in some cases, the narrowness of the roads, according to
Bonsall Union School District Superintendent Jeff Felix. The
children either take a school bus or are driven to school by family
members or neighbors.

"Sidewalks would help create a safe route to schools, but it
would take away from the rural flavor of Bonsall," Felix said.

Trails lead the way

If there are pedestrians, runners, dogwalkers and others in
Bonsall hoping to someday get sidewalks in their neighborhoods,
they may have to re-route their thoughts to the various trails ---
for pedestrian, equestrian, and bicycle uses -- being proposed as
part of the San Luis Rey River Park being developed by the county,
Morgan said. There are plans for several eight-foot-wide trails,
made of compacted decomposed granite, as opposed to concrete. The
county board of supervisors have already approved the plans,
according to Morgan.

County officials are looking to develop a winding park on both
sides of the river from Interstate 15 to East Vista Way -- an
eight-mile corridor that will include ball fields, trails, nature
viewpoints, parking and picnic areas. There would also be about
1,500 acres set aside as preserved habitat for such native species
as the Arroyo toad.

Bonsall also has a separate trails plan which calls for the
development of bicycle lanes on some existing public roads, such as
Camino del Rey and Lilac Road. The trails plan also includes
eight-foot-wide trails for pedestrian and equestrian uses. The
community trails plan is financed through public funding as well as
out of the pockets of developers constructing residential or
commercial buildings.

But even before San Luis Rey River Park or the community's
trails plan takes shape, proponents of sidewalks have options. For
example, Fallbrook has several trails, which would eventually get
connected to Bonsall's trails and the San Luis Rey River Park's
trails, Morgan said.

"With all of this, there is no need for more concrete sidewalks,
curbs and gutters in a place with a semi-rural atmosphere such as
Bonsall," Morgan added, noting that it is unlikely that Bonsall
will get more neighborhood sidewalks.